Foldable posting tbat



M 1 mm. 1,499,527

C. B. HARRISON FOLDABLE POSTING TRAY Filed June 15, 1923 6 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 1 11924. 1,499,527

C. B. HARRISON FOLDABLE POSTING TRAY Filed June 15, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 C50 5. HARE/5' oA/ July 1 1924.

1.499527 C. B. HARRISON FOLDABLE POSTING TRAY Filed June 15, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

Patented July l, l l.

GECIL B. HARRISON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO 11.. S. CROCKER- GO. INC., 013 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CO1551 OIEML'JJION OF CALIFORNIA.

FOLDABLE POSTING TRAY.

' Application filed June 15, 1923. Serial No. 645,558.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CECIL B. HARRISON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Foldable Posting Trays, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for facilitating bookkeeping, and more particularly to a holder and tray for bookkeeping leaves or sheets.

An object is to provide a bookkeeping sheet tray of extreme simplicity and of substantial construction and few operating parts. Another object is to provide a book keeping sheet tray having an adjustable back and an independently adjustable front, whereby the bookkeeping sheets may be readily sustained in a substantially upright position in either a tightly bound or a loose stack arrangement.

Another object is to provide a bookkeeping sheet tray having a front receiver portion of such length that it will not interfere with the close-up position of the clerk or bookkeeper having access to the sheets in the tray, and an object is to provide an extension part adapted to be applied to the front receiver when the latter is tilted to its lower position so as to efiectively support the sheets in an approximately horizontal position.

An object is to provide a tray having an adjustable bottom and to provide said bottom with means for effectively clamping the lower or stub ends of the sheets comprising a stack.

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following specification of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the closed and covered tray.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the uncovered and opened tray, the front receiver and the back wall being angularly disposed in a position to facilitate random posting.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the tray in position for systematic or alphabetic posting.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section from front to rear, with the parts opened for alphabetic posting.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the plane indicated by line 55 of Figure 4.

The tray of the present invention consists of a lower, box-like part including a bottom 2, end walls 3, and a short, vertical back wall or flange 4; the bottom being provided preferably with rubber pads or feet 6, forming protective devices to prevent marring of a polished surface on which the tray may be placed. Along the front edge of the bottom 2 is a hinge device 7, forming a pivot for a front box portion including a front panel 10, parallel end panels 10 and a rear flange 10 of slightly less height than the end panels 10 These end panels are each provided with a slot 11, concentric to the axis of the hinge 7, therefore enabling the front box, which will hereinafter be called the receiverf to be folded from an extended position shown in Figure 3 to an upright position shown in Figure 1.

The receiver 10 is provided with a handle 12 to facilitate the pulling of the same outwardly to the desired position. The slots 11 of the end panels are provided to receive a transverse tie bolt 13, provided in the upper front corners of the end walls 3, one end of the bolt being provided with a wing nut 14, whereby the front receiver 10 can be locked in either a lowered position or a partially open position shown in Figure 2, and in which position the bookkeeping sheets S, Figure 4, are readily accessible.

The tie bolt 13 not only reinforces the end panels or walls 3, but also forms a means for limiting the unfolding of the receiver 10.

Along the top edge of the back portion 4 of the tray extends a hinge device 15, forming a pivotal connection for the adjustable back structure including a rear wall 16, having a short end wall 16 and a long end wall 16 in the present case along the left-hand side of the tray, so that convenient access by the right hand or arm maybe had across the short end wall 16 in access to the bookkeeping sheets.

The end walls 16 and 16" are provided with slots 17, concentric with the axis of the hinge 15, and fixed pins or lugs 18 extend into the slots 17 andlimit the unfolding movement of the tray back;

Also pivotally mounted on the ,liing'e 15 is an adjustable platform 20, adapted to flit swing from the horizontal position to an upwardlyinclined position, Figures 2 and 3. The platform 20 is adapted to be automat ically lifted to the inclined position as the front receiver is pulled forwardly. The tilting platform has downwardly extending side flanges 20 which reston the top edge of the receiver wall 10 The front of the platform is provided with a flange 20 which is provided with an aperture through which extends a demountable crank 21, having a socket end adapted to interlock with a screw 22, rotatively mounted transversely upon the adjustable platform 20. On the screw 22 is a threaded follower 23, having:

;"an upwardly extending cross head 24c, dis

posed above the platform 20 and being mov able forwardly and rearwardly along the ,same as the screw 22is rotated by the crank 21. The platform is slotted at 20 to provide clearance for a portion of the follower 23,- to which the cross head 24: is attached, At the rear portion of the platform 20 is ,an upwardly projecting abutment or flange 25, and between .this and the face of the cross head 24 the bookkeeping sheets S are adapted to be deposited in an upright position in v a stack and firmly clamped when the cross :head 24 is forced down by the screw 22 against the lower stub ends of the sheets.

The tray" embodying theabove details is adapted for efficient use in accordance with -"the-'di1ferent' systems or practices in vogue in making entries from bookkeeping sheets S. In some cases, a systematic or alphabetic bookkeeping system is practiced, and

.finother instances a random posting may be followed. The alphabetic system is one in which the sheets S are adapted to be pulled from the' upright stack when the binder or cross head 24 is sufficientlyrelea'sed to allow the sheets to be picked in groups, which groups are .bodily'shifted to and laid face down upon the-receiver l0,'as shown in lowered position in Figure at. The tray is of sufficient width to permit the posted Y leave sor sheets to be offset in the usual manner when deposited in the receiver 10.

In the random posting system, the receiver is fastened in an u'psta'ndmg position, Figure 2, after .the follower 24 is backed off "enough to release the shee'tsin the stack on a the-platform 20. Then the sheets are toppled forwardly and the desired sheets upon which entries are to be made are picked at random through the stack, which is not "'br'okema's-is' the practice in alphabetic posting, when groups of the leaves are abstracted from the upright stack and laid upon the receiver 101' 3 When the tray is not in use, its contents '-are-pr0tected by a removable top or cover 28, adapted to telescope downupon the vert cally adjusted-receiver and back box structure as shown in Figure 1.

clamping follower 24 and the fixed abutment 25. Before pages or sheets S can he removed, the clamping follower 24- is retracted by rotation of the screw 22., when the crank 21 is applied and turned. While the sheets are firmly locked or clamped in tray they can, at the same time, be readily fingered in pulling one after the other to expose practically the full front of each sheet. The receiver is preferably provided with a detachable extension or false bottom 29, used when the l0Cl"] is extended to its lowermost position, Figure 4-. The removable bottom 29 has interlocking hooks 29 to enter apertures 30 provided therefor in the lower portion of the back panel 10 of the receiver.

hen in upright position of the parts. the receiver bottom 29 may be removed and stored within the tray. The receiver [0 is preferably of such depth or heighth from front to rear or top to bottom as to provide for ready access over its upper edge when the parts are set in random posting position. Figure 2.

Further embodiments, modifications and variations may be resorted to within the principle of the invention.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A bookkeeping sheet posting tray comprising a base-formingstructure having a bottom, end walls. and a short back wall. a receiver hingedly connected to the front of the base structure and adapted to be swung from a vertical to a forwardly inclined position. a tiltable back device attached to the back wall, and a platform at above the base structure and between the front receiver and the back device. and upon which sheets stand while in stacked relation in the back device.

2. A bookkeeping sheet posting tray comprising a base-forming structure. a receiver hingedly connected to the front of the base structure and adapted to be swung from a vertical to a forwardly inclined position and having a rear flange, :1 tiltahle back device attached to the rear portion of the base structure, and an adjustable platform interposed above the base structure and between the front receiver and the back device, and adapted to rest upon the rear flange, and upon which sheets stand while in stacked relation to the back device.

3. A bookkeeping sheet posting tray comill] lllt

1,eee,527

prising a base-forming structure, a receiver hingedly connected to the front of the base structure and adapted to be swung from a vertical to a forwardly inclined position, a tiltable back device attached to the rear portion of the base structure, and a platform interposed above the base structure and between the front receiver and the back device, and upon which sheets stand while in stacked relation in the back device, said platform being automatically raised and lowered by the swinging of the front receiver.

4;. A bookkeeping sheet posting tray comprising a base-forming structure, a receiver hingedly connected to the front of the base structure and adapted to be swung from a vertical to a forwardly inclined position, a tiltable back device attached to the rear portion of the base structure, a platform interposed above the base structure and between the front receiver and the back device, and upon which sheets stand while in stacked relation in the back device, and a sheet clamping means provided on the platform.

5. A bookkeeping sheet posting tray comprising a base-forming structure having a solid bottom and a short back wall, a receiver hingedly connected to the front of the base structure and adapted to be swung from a vertical to a forwardly inclined position, a tiltable back device attached to the back wall, a platform interposed above the bottom and between the front receiver and the back device, and upon which sheets stand while in stacked relation in the back device, and means for limiting the unfolding movements of the receiver and the back device.

6. A bookkeeping sheet posting tray comprising a base-forming structure, a receiver hingedly connected to the front of the base structure and adapted to be swung from a vertical to a forwardly inclined position, a tiltable back device attached to the rear portion of the base structure, a platform inter posed above the base structure and between the front receiver and the back device, and upon which sheets stand while in stacked relation in the back device, and means for securing the front receiver in various angular positions according to the posting method being employed.

7. A bookkeeping sheet posting tray comprising a base-forming structure, a receiver hingedly connected to the front of the base structure and adapted to be swung from a vertical to a forwardly inclined position,

tiltable back device attached to the rear portion of the base structure, and a platform interposed above the base structure and between the front receiver and the back device, and upon which sheets stand while in stacked relation in the back device, the platform being tiltable upon the axis of the back device.

8. A bookkeeping sheet posting tray comprising a base-forming structure, a receiver hingedly connected to the front of the base structure and adapted to be swung from a vertical to a forwardly inclined position, a tiltable back device attached to the rear portion of the base structure, and a platform interposed above the base structure and between the front receiver and the back device, and upon which sheets stand while in stacked relation in the back device, the platform being tiltable upon the axis of the back dedevice, the front portion of said platform. being supported upon a part of said receiver so as to be raised and lowered thereby and therewith.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

C. B. HARRISON. 

